Dowd Report defenders would do well to note this exchange of letters in the New York Times: a letter from former Major League Baseball attorney John Dowd (third letter down) claiming, among other things, that "Rose has never applied for reinstatement in the game during the 13 years" drew a sharp rebuke from the general counsel (the chief lawyer in the company) of Dowd's former client (also third letter down, here) disputing Dowd's view of the rules and pointedly noting:

Dowd attempts to chronicle the history of Rose's ineligibility since 1989 and makes the sweeping statement that Rose has never applied for reinstatement during the last 13 years. It is difficult to understand how a person whose services were terminated by Major League Baseball more than 10 years ago has any idea what communications have occurred between Rose and this office during that time.

In other words, Dowd is speaking without knowledge of the present facts, and without authority from his former client to do so. Dowd's conduct since 1989 has done little to inspire confidence in the objectivity of his work.